Moving to Chicago: All the Basics

This short summary will provide what you need to know if you have your heart set on moving to the Windy City. Educate yourself on the intricate details regarding the moving process. Get to know the city itself. Moving house is without a doubt a stressful endeavor, no matter how happy you might be about it. For this reason, we have comprised a list of some basic pieces of advice for all those of you who are considering coming to Chi-Town.

The forecast

If the city is nicknamed “Windy”, that certainly tells you a little something about the weather. Tourists may be stunned by the freezing temperatures, but the the locals are familiar with harsh winters. Chicago boasts average winter high temperatures of 30 – 38°F. The infamous wind is often coming off the neighboring lake. On the bright side, the cold months of November through February are perfect for house-hunting. The rents and prices are typically lower during this period, conversely, the first rays of sunshine in spring make both the temperature and the real estate prices rise.

Too crowded?

Perhaps not. Chicago’s population has been decreasing for a couple of years now, which may be an indicator that the economic situation isn’t that great. Still, this is not supposed to be an alarming trend. After all, along the residents, there are plenty of tourists nudging their way in public transport. Last year, Chicago was host to almost 58 million visitors, which is excellent news for anyone in the hospitality industry.

Commuting

There are several ways to go from point A to point B in Chicago: the rail (aka “the L”) and the bus in public transport, and cycling, walking and travelling by your own car. Interestingly enough, Chicago seems to encourage its cyclists quite a lot, since the number of cycling commuters is much higher than the national average.

Best neighbourhoods

If you take a look at the map of Chicago, it appears that you should first be looking for accommodation anywhere on the north side. The most recommendable neighbourhoods seem to be situated in the north: North Center, Lake View, Edison Park (whose residents are especially keen on St. Patrick’s Day) and Near North Side are some of them. Bearing in mind the crime rates and green spaces, these locations appear to be the very best.

Get moving

Of course, if you are seriously considering moving to Chicago, the best way to go around it is to hire a reliable moving service with lots of positive reviews. This way, you needn’t worry about careful packing and finding enough boxes, dealing with fragile objects or lifting heavy furniture. However, what you should pay attention to is that you get your parking permit on time. While you don’t need any moving permit for becoming the Chicago resident, you do have to enquire about getting a parking permit for your car and the moving truck.

To summarize, decide on the best time and neighborhood, call the moving service and get ready to enjoy everything nice the city has to offer. The City of the Big Shoulders is waiting with its arms wide open.